New acquisition

This little one was on craigslist. Listed as a female and for $50 so I figured I would go check 'her' out. I got there, saw everything she came with, 20L Tank with sliding lid, heat lamp with 2 bulbs, 2 hides and a huge water dish. So I figured I was making out like a bandit.

I got home and popped her and she is actually a he. But he has stuck eye caps and is obviously underfed. They had originally rescued it from a vacant apartment 2 years ago, but have been feeding him 2 mice every 2 weeks. So I figure he is at least 4 years old. His length is of good size, but definitely could use a plump rat every week.

What initially drew me in was the fact that she appeared much like my Yellowbelly does. Yellow dorsal spots, high flames, and a clear belly with speckled side scales.

Can you all help me tell if he is a normal or a Yellowbelly? Seeing as the YB is very hard to distinguish from a normal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/IMG_0722.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/IMG_0724.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/IMG_0728.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/IMG_0729.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/IMG_0730.jpg

It's a normal, not a yellowbelly.

He doesn't seem skinny at all. Pretty average looking girth to me.
Also, what is this??
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...tled-1copy.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

It's a normal, not a yellowbelly.

He doesn't seem skinny at all. Pretty average looking girth to me.

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I figured he was a normal, but you never know.

And his spine is very pronounced when he is stretched out. He weighs in at 553g empty, compared to my 07 Ghost male who is 761g.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Turbo Serpent

I figured he was a normal, but you never know.

And his spine is very pronounced when he is stretched out. He weighs in at 553g empty, compared to my 07 Ghost male who is 761g.

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That doesn't mean much, some snakes grow faster than others, and he was on a smaller feeding schedule which probably slowed his metabolism down. Most 'normal' families that decide to get a pet snake feed a mouse a week, so it's not that unusual.

Maybe he's skinnier in real life, but to me, he doesn't look to be in bad shape from those pictures. Except for the odd scale edges..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

That doesn't mean much, some snakes grow faster than others, and he was on a smaller feeding schedule which probably slowed his metabolism down. Most 'normal' families that decide to get a pet snake feed a mouse a week, so it's not that unusual.

Maybe he's skinnier in real life, but to me, he doesn't look to be in bad shape from those pictures. Except for the odd scale edges..

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He has the beginning appearance of scale rot. His water dish was also slimy like it had never been washed out. Just refilled every few days.

So now he will get fresh water daily and belly heat versus a heat lamp. And I don't know what kind of bedding he was in, but he is back on paper towels.

And after comparing him to my YB he def has a standard look to him. I just noticed the more pronounced yellow on his back and the clear belly and that was the first thing to my mind.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...NRM06F-016.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...NRM06F-017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...NRM06F-018.jpg

Got new pictures taken. Also got the snake sexed today by a shop owner, and lo and behold, its actually a female. 553g.

I also got two more normals this afternoon, big deal again, and got them sexed at the same time and both of them are females too!!! One is 906g the other is 831g. So they will be able to breed this next season! The pair off of craigslist with a 20L and a 10g with a bunch of other reptile equipment for $75!

And in addition I also picked up my Het Orange Ghost Female that I put a deposit on! $75!

So my week consisted of picking up 3 Normal Females and a Het Orange Ghost Female all for $200! I'd say thats a good deal!

Like the light coloration...grats:)

Not a yellow belly, but a nice looking snake nonetheless. Grats on the new pickup.

not a yellow belly, but a nice looking specimen.

congrats on the new addition!

Nice looking normal, and hey, even better it actually is a she!!!